Latest Fourth Estate Articles

Many students utilize music to help them focus when studying for finals. (Detra Bell / Fourth Estate)

BY KARLOS CORIA, OPINION EDITOR

As finals season approaches, it is important to highlight a studying staple that may be more necessary than caffeine: music. From Bad Bunny to Beethoven, students across the nation have long used music as a study tool to help them focus. 

Not all music is made the same. Research shows that our brains cannot multitask. Although many would like to believe otherwise, it is not physically possible for our brains to handle multiple cognitive tasks at once. This applies to music as well. 

Researchers have found that listening to music with lyrics can negatively affect cognitive functions such as focus and comprehension. On the other hand, music without lyrics — including instrumentals, soundtracks and theme songs — has no observable effect on focus. 

Still, most students would agree that music does affect their performance while studying. The compromise between research and experience comes down to the type of music you choose. It is best to pick your music not only based on taste, but also on what you are working on. 

There is just something special about finishing a paper while an epic orchestra signals your victory over ENGH 302. 

When studying for finals, it is best to listen to music without lyrics. Some great recommendations for classical enjoyers include Mozart, Beethoven and Bach. 

I am partial to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” myself. 

For those of you more gaming-centered, I recommend C418’s discography, the “Dispatch” score by Andrew Arcadi and the soundtracks from “Halo: Reach” and “Halo 3: ODST.” The tracks range from tranquil to full-on boss fight dramatics, so make sure you match the music to the subject or topic at hand. 

Do not fret, I also have something for the anime lovers too. Anything from Hiroyuki Sawano is worth listening to, but his work on the “Attack on Titan” soundtracks is particularly exceptional and worth a listen. I also recommend Yutaka Yamada’s “Tokyo Ghoul” soundtrack. 

If gaming, classical and anime are not the vibe, here are some recommendations for the average listener. 

Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea has something for anyone who enjoys the type of music that makes you scrunch your nose. Flawed Mangoes offers a calm, soothing vibe that you have probably already heard on TikTok. John Williams provides everything from epic battle music (I am looking at you, STEM majors) to chill, romantic tunes. 

If none of these recommendations work for you, think about your favorite movie, show or game. From there, go on Spotify, Apple Music or whatever other music platform you use and look it up. There is probably a soundtrack waiting for you.

Remember, finals are just a small obstacle in the grand scheme of things. Work hard, take care of yourself and, above all, make sure you choose the right background music for the movie that is your life. 

Tara Newell (left), Aidan Zentner, Leah Werme, Jacob Lockey, Shani Ross and Dan Rizzieri hold the winning national competition medals at Virginia Tech on April 26, 2026. (Project S.E.R.V.E)

BY LIBBY BONDI, STAFF WRITER

George Mason University’s bioengineering senior design team took first place at the third annual Project S.E.R.V.E. national design competition, beating host Virginia Tech with a device designed to help Paralympic athletes compete in extreme cold.

The team, comprised of seniors Jacob Lockey, Aidan Zentner, Leah Werme and Subhi Mekki, is known as “Team 4Ward.” They developed a residual limb warming device for Dan Rizzieri, a double below-the-knee amputee who specializes in bobsled and skeleton for the USA Paralympic team.

Before his mentorship involvement in the project, Rizzieri had never used a residual limb warming device.

“I just tough it out … my leg will freeze up,” he said. “By the time I’m done, I go and try to warm it up.”

Instead, he now has a device built specifically for him to avoid that kind of pain during his practice and competitions.

“I think they mentored me,” Rizzieri said. “They were so willing to listen to everything that I needed … because really, they were designing it for me.”

The Project S.E.R.V.E National Design Competition was originally developed by Dr. Christopher Arena of Virginia Tech and Kristie Yelinek during her time with Project S.E.R.V.E.

“The main focus of our [Project S.E.R.V.E’s] mission is to use the talent and generosity of student engineers to serve those who have served our country and communities,” Executive Director Tara Newell said.

Selected through a competitive process, Team 4Ward set out to build a device centered entirely on Rizzieri’s needs.

Dan Rizzieri (left), Leah Werme, Aidan Zentner and Jacob Lockey present their findings in a supplementary informational poster session at Virginia Tech on April 25, 2026. (Shani Ross)

From the beginning, the team had to decide between electrical and chemical heating systems. They ultimately chose chemical heat packs for their simplicity, reusability and safety.

Unlike electrical systems, the chemical design eliminated the need for batteries or wiring, reducing the risk of malfunction in harsher conditions.

“Because, not with the bobsled team explicitly, but potentially being used for skeleton, if something like a microcontroller or a USB panel got crushed against the ice wall, it could stop working or become unsafe,” Zentner said. “With ours, even if something breaks, it’s harmless; edible even.”

The design also heavily prioritized ease of use, with heat packs stored in zippered pockets that could be operated with one hand. 

“Every decision we made was about making it as accessible as possible,” Lockey said. “Whether that meant vertical zippers or simple heat packs that only require a flick of a metal disc.”

However, designing for a residual limb introduced a unique set of challenges.

Rizzieri’s limb, which is congenital rather than the result of injury, presented an added layer of complexity due to its unique shape and structure.

One of the biggest hurdles came in regulating heat. Chemical heat packs, while simple, do not allow for direct temperature control. Early versions of the device reached high temperatures.

“We had to somehow take the temperature from about 52 degrees Celsius down to below 41,” Werme said.

According to senior design professor Shani Ross, the team’s model faced skepticism early on.

“At first, people weren’t sure about the chemical direction,” Ross said. “But they persevered, refined their design and people began to see the vision.”

The team managed to put together the correct combination of materials and build their design while meeting all regulations.

“We started out with a cut-up T-shirt and silicone gel pads and ended up with a fully fabricated device.” Lockey said.

Leah Werme, Jacob Lockey, Dan Rizzieri and Aidan Zenter test their device at an ice rink at Virginia Tech on April 26, 2026. (Shani Ross)

When Mason’s team was announced as the winner, the moment was the culmination of months of work. However, for the team, the real success came even earlier.

“When Dan said he loved it and was going to wear it, I was like, ‘All right, we won. Nothing else matters,’” Werme said. 

Lockey shared the sentiment, describing his experience and connection with Dan throughout the process.

“You know, like, winning first place was great, but seeing Dan’s face when we made something that he actually would use, that was priceless,” Lockey said.

While the competition is still in its early years, its impact is already beginning to extend beyond the university.

Newell hopes to incorporate interdisciplinary collaboration in the future, including psychology for students to better understand the mental health impact of adaptive design.

At its core, the mission remains the same: “Engineering with empathy,” Newell said.

For Team 4Ward, the journey isn’t over.

The group plans to pursue a patent for their device and will send the final product to Rizzieri for use in his future competitions. They also presented their work at Mason’s CEC Undergraduate Research Celebration on May 5.

Overall, for athletes like Rizzieri, devices like Team 4Ward’s mean something simple but powerful. 

As Dan says: “Having products like this that can be designed, just puts us [Paralympic athletes] on that level where we can think about one less thing.”

A television display at the Recreation Athletic Complex on May 7, 2026, shows a Mason Alert message informing students of rescheduled finals due to the Canvas breach. (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

BY RITHVIK HARI, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

As finals season gets underway, university students across the country were met with an error message on Thursday, May 7, when logging into Canvas, a learning management system commonly used by colleges and universities to manage classes online. 

A hacker group known as ShinyHunters exploited issues in Canvas’ Free-for-Teacher accounts and were able to gain access to data from more than 9,000 educational institutions across the country.  

Canvas is a platform that allows for professors and teaching assistants to share syllabi, class notes and announcements and gives students a form to submit assignments. 

ShinyHunters, a group with a known history of carrying out high-profile data breaches, also defaced parts of the Canvas website in addition to gaining unauthorized access to user data. Instructure, the company that owns and operates Canvas, acknowledged the incident on May 7 and stated that an investigation remains active. 

ShinyHunters posted a message to Canvas alerting users that the group had hacked Canvas and demanded that Instructure reach out to the group before the deadline. (ShinyHunters)

George Mason was among the thousands of universities affected nationwide, including Stanford, Princeton and James Madison Universities.

“Instead of contacting us to resolve it they ignored us and did some ‘security patches,’” the group wrote. 

Mason’s IT department was made aware of the hack through an email from Instructure. While Canvas was restored for many universities by Thursday evening, the disruption forced Mason to take precautionary steps. In an alert to students and faculty, the university postponed final exams scheduled for Friday, May 8, to be taken on Wednesday, May 13.

GMU’s Chief Information Security Officer Matthew Dalton said in an interview with Fourth Estate that the breach was limited. 

“Not the entirety of the Canvas system was compromised in the breach. However, basic identity data such as students’ names, email addresses and G Numbers, were at risk of being exposed,” Dalton said.

ShinyHunters issued a May 12 “end of day” deadline, giving Instructure until then to contact the group before stolen data would be released. The note accused Instructure of ignoring the group’s earlier demands and attempting to patch vulnerabilities instead.

On May 9, less than 24 hours after the hack, the FBI’s Cyber Division released a public service announcement on social media regarding the hack. The FBI advised those who may have been affected by the hack to not engage with anyone claiming to have their data and to not respond to demands or send payments. 

“By receiving a message, that does not necessarily mean your personal information has been compromised,” the statement read. 

Despite the assurances, many users have taken to social media to warn students about the potential dangers they may be exposed to thanks to the security breach, including heightened phishing attempts.  

Instructure has been providing university officials with updates as their investigation continues. The company has not provided a specific timeline for the full investigation, noting that further updates are expected “soon.”

To better understand the nature of phishing attempts and mitigate their impact, visit this link.

Students pose in front of carnival rides at Mason Day on April 24 in Fairfax, Va. (Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

BY ALEXANDRA HENRIQUES, STAFF WRITER

On the morning of Mason Day, Mason’s annual end-of-year celebration, Student Involvement announced that headliner Waka Flocka Flame pulled out of his performance. 

Shortly after, they announced a new headliner — JT from City Girls. 

“He breached the contract. But we upgraded,” Student Involvement Associate Director Hope Miller said in an Instagram comment on the GMU Barstool account. 

Based on the largely positive response from the student body, she was right. After the announcement, floods of “JT coming” comments and reposts on Instagram flooded in.

“I don’t really listen to either [artist],” junior Veronica Mayfield, a Computer Game Design major, said. “I usually only go to Mason Day to spend time with my friends.” 

When Mason Day started at 3 p.m., students came in as excited as ever, most sharing the sentiment that the event is a great way to promote school spirit and spend time with friends. According to University Life, over 7,000 people attended Mason’s longest-standing tradition. 

“I usually don’t go to many school events, but I always go to Mason Day and it makes me feel very ‘Patriotic,’” recent graduate Sophie Maestas said. 

Maestas also said this Mason Day was the best she had attended, highlighting the different performers and activities. 

Performers on stilts walked around the lots, taking pictures with attendees and making jokes from above. Stuff-a-plush, caricature sketches, laser tag, silent disco, airbrush tattoos and more activities provided hours of entertainment. 

Student Involvement brought in an external company for the usual fair amusement, such as the Ferris wheel, pendulum and swing, midway games and bungees. Additionally, this year, Mason Day brought in local businesses who tabled their art, jewelry and even press-on nails, giving students a chance to shop small. 

Mason students wait in line for a carnival ride at Mason Day on April 24, 2026. (Jalynn Kirabo/ Fourth Estate)

Senior Health Informatics major Sona Adhithi said her favorite parts of Mason Day were the “little activities such as the photobooth, the photo keychain and face painting.” As a graduating senior, she said it felt bittersweet. 

When the rain came down around 6 p.m., it seemed that no one was deterred. Those who huddled under tents expressed the want to wait out the storm and continue to experience everything Mason Day had to offer. 

While JT came on stage late in the evening, the crowd still seemed to love her performance.

“I was a little disappointed with Waka Flocka pulling out of the event with such little notice, but JT was absolutely incredible,” Adhithi said. 

Rapper JT waves to the crowd during her headlining performance at Mason Day on April 24, 2026. (Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

Overall, even with its setbacks, Mason Day once again brought the community together for a day of games, food and music. 

“I like seeing everyone out and wearing Mason colors and being nice to each other,” Mayfield said. “I feel like that’s not seen on the Mason campus a lot.”

Abdelhakim Mustafa poses for a photo after finishing his evening prayer on August 19, 2025. (Basil Mustafa / Fourth Estate)

BY BASIL MUSTAFA, STAFF WRITER

I didn’t see my dad too much when I was little. The first memory I have of him is when he returned home from a long stay in Sudan. I remember waking up in his arms after falling asleep in the airport and thinking, “Who is this guy?”

I suppose that was a sign of how my relationship with my dad would develop as I grew into a young man: a sort of mutual self-discovery. 

When I was in elementary school, my father was two things: unserious and absent. His absence was not malicious; he simply spent all of my waking hours working or sleeping to recover from work. 

If I’m being honest, it felt like a special occasion whenever I got to see the guy.

The unserious factor did come with its problems, though. There would be weekends when our dad would be nowhere to be found, and he’d call us and say, “I’m in Nebraska,” or “I’m in Minnesota” or “I’m in Texas.” This erratic behavior put a strain on my mother, who already wasn’t doing a good job adjusting to a new country.

Recently, my dad’s mother passed away. Her passing brought an explosion of reflection to me and my family. Since the war broke out in Sudan, my dad has had to carry a bigger financial and emotional load in terms of taking care of his mom.​​ The stress was taking a toll on him, and I saw my dad in a state that I hadn’t seen him in before.

During that process, I was begging my dad to prioritize himself, urging him to draw harder boundaries with his family before he reached a breaking point. My grandmother’s passing and the ongoing grieving process have provided a wave of clarity for why he’s been pushing himself to this point.

Everyone who shared their condolences remarked how my father cared for his mother as no other man did. My grandmother lived in Saudi Arabia, and I was soothed by memories of my dad speaking to my grandmother every day, despite an eight-hour time difference. 

I was reminded of how many times my dad would drop everything and travel halfway across the world just so his mom could feel his presence.

As I began to look back on more than just what my dad did for my grandma, I’ve also noticed the sacrifices he’s made for me. Despite my dad’s 60-hour work week, he always managed to be there when I needed him. Whenever I was in the hospital, whether it was for something physical or mental, he was always there.

I’ve lived a very different life from my dad. Life in the West primarily focuses on performance. Your career, skills and abilities are what are valued beyond anything else. 

I’m not immune to this line of thinking by any means. In fact, being the children of immigrants increases this pressure tenfold.

The sacrifices my dad has made — his freedom, his time, his money and the intrinsic reward that he receives because of them — have made me completely reevaluate what matters in this short life we live. 

Do I want to be remembered as a great writer or journalist, or would I rather be remembered as a great son and father who would go to the ends of the earth for his family? Suddenly, the answer becomes pretty clear.

Less than two weeks after my grandmother passed, my dad got news of his cousin’s sudden death. My mother remarked at how he has gone from “sadness to sadness.” When I asked my dad how he felt, he said, “I’m grateful that I was given the time on this planet to spend with the people I love.”

The pain my dad has experienced and his simultaneous strength, has inspired my own reflection. Does getting that job matter that much? Is that beef with your friends that important? 

I don’t know the answers to those questions. What I do know is that our time here is limited, and I’d like to have the same reflections as my pops when it’s all said and done.

Mason Counseling and Psychological Services, located on the third floor of SUB I, offers counseling and therapy services for students in need. (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

BY ANISA FOX, STAFF WRITER

I recently spoke to a friend who got her first-ever nosebleed as a result of finals stress. 

Her stress came to a peak while studying for her German final, which would count for a large part of her semester grade. Naturally, she studied hard and worried about achieving a good grade. This stressed her out, ate up time and altered her sleep and eating habits. Ultimately, she gave up striving for a higher grade in favor of her health.

Research from the American Psychological Association supports her choice and shows that stress can have long-term health effects on most major body systems. Despite this, stress can be managed, and proper stress management often leads to better health and academic results. 

As an off-campus transfer student who works full-time and commutes by public transportation, I understand the challenge of balancing work requirements, school expectations and a social life while also making time for hobbies and rest. 

My experience is not unique. Many of us at George Mason have career commitments, family obligations, religious requirements, kids in our care and all the typical ups and downs of life to manage. Finals season piles on additional work and the looming, all-encompassing grades, often only add to our stress. 

While stress isn’t always avoidable, managing it is important to long-term health and success. 

Whether you are connecting with friends, a paid therapist or a professional at Counseling and Psychological Services, it is important to seek connection. Form a study group, phone a friend while you work or take a “brain break” to have dinner with family. Finding others to talk to about stress or share in your relaxation can be a great way to manage unavoidable stress. 

Falling asleep when tomorrow’s 11:59 p.m. deadline is circling your thoughts isn’t easy. Sometimes it is important to power through and submit your work. Other times, it is more important to ask for an extension, take a warm shower, enjoy a hot cup of tea and stretch to get ready for bed. Sleep is essential for a healthy body, stable mood, brain function and performance: You can not perform your best if you don’t sleep.

Some of us are self-proclaimed “gym bros;” others are much less enthusiastic about working out. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, finding ways to move your body that work for you is important: doing yoga, walking, weightlifting, running and swimming are all good options. 

According to the American Psychological Association, “preliminary evidence suggests that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. One theory is that physical activity triggers a release of dopamine and serotonin, which can improve mood.” 

A good mood is essential to a successful finals season.

Stress can often make us reach for comfort foods. Finding ways to reduce your intake of processed foods and sugar while increasing healthy foods such as unprocessed meats, grains, fruits and vegetables (with some celebratory cake post-finals) is a key way to manage stress and maintain energy levels and health. 

Be mindful of caffeine intake from coffee, energy drinks, soda and chocolate — over-consuming caffeine (400mg or more a day, or about 2 energy drinks) can actually increase stress.

It is important to know when you have taken on more than you can handle. Dropping certain programs or extracurriculars, asking professors for extensions, avoiding perfectionism or asking others for help with work (when appropriate to do so) can help free up time for other work or rest. 

Pushing through when you have too many things to do and not enough time to do them can lead to burnout. Burnout is an extreme form of stress that can be debilitating. This is why it’s important to combat stress before burnout occurs.

The golden key to stress management is time management. Digital reminders, calendars, alarms, an accountability partner or a physical journal can be great ways to plan your day hour by hour. 

It is also important to prioritize effectively — sometimes it is more important to see your out-of-state friend, and other times it’s more important to finish your work. Striking a balance that meets your needs is important to meeting your deadlines. 

Additionally, articles from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard offer some great examples of time management strategies. 

Using campus resources such as the Career Services and Learning Services  is a great way to access additional time management support. 

Regardless of how your finals go, it’s important to remember that in order to remain healthy, do well academically and be resilient, you must remain calm. That said, you’re going to do great!

Junior forward Louis Volker dribbles the ball while covered by a Saint Joseph’s defender at a Feb. 25 women’s basketball game. (Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

BY LOUIS VOLKER, COPY EDITOR

To my great disappointment, I didn’t uncover any conspiracies while working at Fourth Estate. As far as I know, there are no secret societies, no underground tunnels and — most heartbreaking of all — no lizard-people. 

Either I’m a bad journalist, or Mason was simply a genuinely great place to earn a degree.

I played basketball here. A lot of it. I am happy to report that I still love it very much. When I was 11 years old, my best friends’ dad won a courtside ticket to a women’s basketball game at Mason. We got to take a picture with Natalie Butler after. It was the first time I thought that maybe college basketball was for me. Thank you very much for that, George Mason — turns out it is! 

Fourth Estate has left me changed in surprising ways. For one, I wasn’t expecting to make lasting friends the way I did. I can definitely say that everyone on the staff is a quality person who deserves gold stars for days. 

It hurts to leave. Bad, like, worse than I expected. I sort of feel like a teenager about to move to Missouri again. Mason did this weird thing where it snuck up on me and turned into a home behind my back (rude). 

Now, out of nowhere, I have to listen to Slayyyter to keep myself from getting upset while trying to figure out how the heck I’m going to move my bookshelf out of my apartment. 

While I’m thrilled for my future, it’s hard to turn the page and close this chapter. Typical — I am a secret sucker for a bittersweet coming-of-age teen movie. 

I love my friends, I love my editors and I love to write. While this is a “see you later,” (I refuse to let it be a permanent goodbye), I’ve done a lot of stuff that I’ll never get to do ever again in Fairfax. This is a sentiment I’d most like to leave with you, dear reader — I am going to miss Mason like an old friend, and I worry that enthusiasm for the university is in scarce supply. 

I am a firm believer that sincerity is the most important asset someone can have, and apathy is for the birds. You have nothing to gain from indifference, and everything to gain from enthusiasm. 

I love Mason because I love the people I’ve found myself working (and singing karaoke) with. This isn’t high school! Stop trying to be cool! Your fear of looking stupid is holding you back!

I’m looking forward to continuing to keep up with what Fourth Estate publishes in the future, and fully intend to watch every movie review they release in the future like a hawk. I’m sure they’re going to be great; the more contrarian, the better. 

The paper is in great hands. See you, Space Cowboys. Make good choices and don’t do drugs.

Fourth Estate Culture Editor Katie Perschau poses for her senior pictures in the Colorado mountains. (Katie Perschau / Fourth Estate)

Fourth Estate Culture Editor graduates from George Mason

BY KATIE PERSCHAU, CULTURE EDITOR

Dear readers and writers,

As my time at Fourth Estate and Mason comes to a close, I would like to thank you all for your continued dedication to the Culture section, Fourth Estate and collegiate journalism. 

When I first decided I wanted to turn my passion for sharing people’s stories into a career, I heard many people tell me that I was entering a dying industry. After three years dedicating myself to journalism and witnessing its impact, I can say with confidence that there will always be a need for passionate truthseekers and storytellers like you all in this world, especially now. 

Culture stories allow us to understand and experience the lives, values and successes of others in a world that wants to see people divided by hatred, and I have loved seeing the ways the culture section has connected Mason students. 

I joined Fourth Estate in January of 2025 as soon as I realized I should probably get some real writing experience if I wanted to make journalism a career. I had very limited experience covering events, but I timidly volunteered to write about the 2025 Black Student Alliance Fashion Show. 

Notepad in hand, I watched models walk the runway in handmade costumes. I fell in love with culture writing when I realized that I wasn’t just documenting an event, I was giving a platform to the creativity and uniqueness of Mason students.  

Since then, I have covered everything from “Glee” actors to polling booths. I have watched the Mason community express its identity through parades, protests, clubs and celebrations. I have also had the privilege of working with a profoundly dedicated staff. Being surrounded by the talented editing team at Fourth Estate has been a privilege and a blessing that I will cherish long after I receive my diploma, and their enthusiasm has emboldened my own love for the journalism vocation. I am so excited to see all of the amazing things this team will go on to do.

I came to Mason from my hometown in Colorado, having never visited the East Coast.

I was scared, I knew no one, and I wasn’t sure if Mason would be the place for me. As I stare down the barrel of postgraduate life, I am less scared knowing that I have built lifelong connections here in part because of the wonderful experiences I have had at Fourth Estate. No matter where I end up, Mason will always be a place I can turn to for comfort and joyous memories. 

If you are like my freshman year self, terrified and unsure about your path, know that the future isn’t as daunting when you focus on what you love to do. The world needs more people who are unapologetically passionate about the things they love (and as a bonus, your story can be published in the culture section). 

Be who you are, and I promise the rest will fall into place.

To the writers I have worked with — your voices bring life to the culture section, and I am continuously in awe of your growing skills and creative ideas. I have learned more from each of you than you know. 

To the Mason community– You are the heart of the stories we share, and there wouldn’t be a culture section without your relentless passion, creativity and bold expression. I hope you see yourself reflected in every article I have helped publish. 

I am deeply thankful for my time at Fourth Estate, and I can’t wait to see all the ways the publication continues to grow and thrive. 

With gratitude and Patriot Pride,

Katie Perschau, Culture Editor

The Van Buren Street bike lane is pictured in Herndon, Virginia. The bike lane provides greater connectivity to historic downtown Herndon and the Herndon Silver Line Metro station. (Jason A. Menjivar / Fourth Estate)

BY JASON A. MENJIVAR, CONTRIBUTOR

The Federal Highway Administration’s attempt to remove bike lanes in Washington, D.C., reflects a broader national response against bicycle infrastructure — one that disregards clear safety benefits.

Many communities around the country have organized opposition to bike lanes in favor of keeping roadways solely for cars. However, opponents of bike lanes overlook how they benefit all road users. 

The Highway Administration says its goal is to return “common sense into city planning,” but by removing bike lanes, it is doing the opposite. If the Highway Administration cared about safety, it would encourage more construction of bike lanes and provide funds for communities to invest in them.

It is no surprise that the federal government has taken a combative approach toward bike lanes in Washington, D.C. Around the country, the Department of Transportation has canceled grants for bike lane infrastructure. They have claimed that bike lanes are “hostile” to cars and see it as a “priority of preserving or increasing roadway capacity for motor vehicles.”

The federal government is not the only one opposing bike lanes; state governments and residents have also voiced their displeasure with them.

Not far from George Mason, residents in Alexandria, Virginia are opposing converting street parking to bike lanes. 70% of respondents to a city survey agreed that “Braddock Road feels unsafe for families walking and biking, as well as for kids walking by themselves.”

In Salt Lake City, Utah, the state government is attempting to impose its will over the city by restricting when the city can use bike lanes to reduce lane width as a form of “traffic calming,” which uses physical additions to a roadway to reduce the speed of cars.

The opposition to bike lanes is a result of the car-centric culture in the U.S., where any inconvenience, reduction in lanes or shared road between drivers and bicyclists is seen as an “attack” on cars.

However, bike lanes are crucial to enhancing the safety of not only bicyclists but also the cars that wish to see them gone from the road. Critics argue bike lanes reduce space and speed for cars. Data from multiple cities shows they reduce crashes and create economic growth.

In 2013, Salt Lake City removed nine blocks of street parking and replaced it with bike lanes. Businesses adjacent to the bike lanes saw an 8.8% increase in sales compared to a 7% increase citywide, according to the Urban Institute.

Data collected by the District Department of Transportation between 2022 and 2025 shows that bike lanes along the 15th Street corridor in Washington, D.C., reduced road crashes by 46% and bicycle crashes by 91%.

Bike lane users are valuable members of the community that are treated as nuisances. Students and faculty rely on bike lanes to get to and from campus. Workers use them to commute to work. All users need them for safety.

If bike lanes continue to be met with opposition, roads will continue to be unsafe for everyone. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will continue to be injured. Local businesses will not reach their full potential, and the car-centric culture will remain the same.

Opposing bike lanes does not benefit cars; it hurts drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. If governments want to protect citizens, then funding bike lane infrastructure is a solution. For communities who wish to make their neighborhoods safer to walk, bike and drive; they should support bike lanes and advocate for them. 

If the goal is to make roads safer, reduce accidents, create economic growth and implement “common sense city planning,” then the data is clear: bike lanes are a benefit, not a burden. Anything less than that represents a failure of government and society.

Kennedy Harris (#3) waits during free throws in a Feb. 25 game against Saint Joseph’s. During the 2025-26 season, the standout guard led Mason with 2.2 steals per game and placed second on the team with an average of 14.1 points. (Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

BY PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Star junior guard Kennedy Harris announced her entry into the transfer portal on March 25, joining fellow starters Zahirah Walton and Louis Volker in a major shakeup for George Mason Women’s Basketball. Their exits follow the most successful stretch in program history.

Throughout Mason’s three straight 20-win seasons from 2024-26, Harris was a major spark — she routinely delivered circus shots and defensive takeaways en route to a pair of A-10 Championship Game appearances.

“I wanted to elevate myself to bigger and better things that align with my goals,” Harris said in an interview with Fourth Estate. “I’m excited about this new journey — this new path. I’m also a little bit nervous, but I’m confident in myself, and that’s all I can really lean on.”

By the time the 2025-2026 season ended, she made her mark as one of the most productive two-way guards in Mason history; she finished her career with two All-A-10 selections as a second-option for the Green and Gold.

After a stellar career at Hampton High School in southern Virginia, Harris joined the Patriots in fall 2023 and made an immediate impact, securing A-10 All-Freshman honors while finishing fourth on the team in scoring (9.4 ppg).

Her rapid improvement as a sophomore contributed to the Patriots winning the 2024-25 A-10 title and securing their first-ever NCAA appearance. Harris raised her scoring to 13.9 ppg — second only to Zahirah Walton — and logged 7 steals in four postseason games. For her efforts, she earned her first All-A-10 selection. 

In 2025-26, Harris capped her Mason career with a personal-best 14.1 ppg; she and Walton once again served as a premier one-two punch in the A-10, combining for over 32 ppg and nearly a third of the team’s points. 

With a team-high 2.2 steals per game, Harris anchored a top-tier defense. No game better exemplified that than Mason’s A-10 semifinal win against Richmond. She had four steals and her tenacity on the perimeter was crucial in holding the Spiders to just 45 points.

“I think I’ve grown a lot,” Harris said. “Most of it came with a lot of lessons learned and just figuring out myself as a human being — and not even just as a basketball player.”

She credits the connections she has made for her growth.

“I’ve always been a person to realize that basketball takes you to so many places and lets you meet so many good people,” she said. “Having these bonds with my coaches and different teammates along the way … helped shape me into who I am.”

Harris commended Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis’s leadership, crediting her as a motivating force during the team’s run.

“The commitment that she has to [contacting] us on a different level, even as women in general, is really nice,” she said. 

In the increasingly complex era of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) — where student-athletes can now profit from their personal brands — college rosters have never been more chaotic. Competitive mid-major schools like Mason are forced to contend with their players leaving for programs with deeper NIL resources. Harris believes the benefits still outweigh the drawbacks.

“I think it’s beneficial … being able to sustain some type of financial stability when we depart from college and graduate … especially since we’re getting paid to do something that we love,” she said.

“At the end of the day, just because you transfer, [it] doesn’t mean you don’t love the program,” Harris said about her departure. “I know a lot of players may feel like that, but I love this program, and I love what [it] brought me for these three years … I just [want] to play at a higher level.” 

Despite a complicated close to a memorable career, Harris leaves Mason as a model for future Patriots with plenty of highlights to look back on.

Freshman guard Mary Amoateng (right) attempts a jump shot with a Saint Louis defender contesting. Amoateng broke out as a rookie, finishing third on the team in scoring with 8.5 ppg and stealing the ball 2.2 times a game. (Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

BY PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

From the beginning, the expectations were sky high for the 2025-26 George Mason Women’s Basketball team.

Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis intentionally set them high. 

“[You] plan to be a champion before the season starts… we made it very intentional of what the standard is; and it’s nothing short of being a champion,” she said.

Coming off a season where they won the A-10 and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time, the expectation was to repeat as champions and continue upon the winning culture brought in by Blair-Lewis when she was hired in 2021. 

Juniors forward Zahirah Walton and guard Kennedy Harris — double-digit scorers in 2024-25 — had their best seasons yet; the star forward increased her scoring output from the year before (14.8 ppg) all the way to 18 ppg — good for second in the A-10. 

Beside her, Harris elevated her game to a new level on both ends. She posted a career-high 14.1 ppg while leading the team with 2.2 steals per game. She and Walton combined to form a dynamic duo for the Patriots, with Walton playing as the ball-dominant slasher and Harris as the team’s defensive-minded floor general.

Junior forward Zahirah Walton (left) dribbles between the legs as a Saint Joseph’s defender bears towards her. Mason blew out the Hawks 85-59 on Feb. 25, and they carried that late season momentum into the A-10 tournament. (Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

Mason’s season opened with a high-scoring heartbreaker, a 94-85 overtime loss to Temple despite a 31-point performance from Walton. The Patriots quickly shifted the narrative, however, reeling off four straight wins by an average of 22 points. That streak was punctuated by a miracle against Georgetown. After trailing the Hoyas by 14 to start the fourth quarter, Harris buried a clutch jumper with 12 seconds left to force overtime and secure a stunning comeback victory.

The Patriots struggled against a challenging non-conference slate, exemplified by a blowout loss to Maryland, losses to Murray State, Ole Miss, Liberty and Princeton. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, Mason went 3-5, and they sat at a record of 7-6 — not losing for a month after that.

Mason rattled off nine straight victories to start the calendar year, finishing with a perfect record in January in a domination of their conference — each win came against the A-10 by an average margin of 11 points.

The vibes were up until the streak ended against Richmond (10-1 in the A-10 at the time), who outclassed Mason with a 71-57 loss. The game was tied at halftime, but Richmond would burn Mason badly in the second half, outscoring them 43-29. 

The Patriots played poorly on offense, shooting just 33% from the field with Walton finishing 3-of-20 on just 9 total points. In contrast, the Spiders — behind three double-digit scorers in Maggie Doogan, Ally Sweeney and Rachel Ullstrom — made half of their field goal attempts.

Mason’s next test came against top-seeded Rhode Island (14-0 in the A-10 at the time), and they were no match for the Rams’ championship-caliber defense. In a 79-63 home loss, senior guard Brooklyn Gray scored 30 points on only 17 shots, whereas Mason shot a woeful 23-of-73 (32% FG).

Mason’s defense, which allowed 60 ppg throughout the season, was the clear strength of the team. With the two losses, however, against top-ranked conference rivals like Richmond and Rhode Island, the offense failed to meet the moment. Mason scored a measly 60 ppg (45-of-140, 32% FG) against those two. 

In order to make due on their expectations for the season, Mason would need to correct their shooting woes— instead, Blair-Lewis decided to double down on their strength: the defense.

“If they’re not scoring, [then] we’re not scoring,” she said after the Patriots exacted revenge against Richmond. 

In an ugly, low-scoring game, Mason locked Richmond up in their 46-37 rematch, holding the best scoring team in the A-10 to shoot an abysmal 27% from the field. After the Patriots later defeated Duquesne in the season finale, they entered the A-10 tournament on a seven game win streak as the hottest team in the conference.

In the first round, Dayton gave Mason trouble, and the Patriots’ season appeared over after falling down by 10 with less than 4 minutes remaining— instead, Mason engineered another come-from-behind push to force overtime. In the extra period, an unexpected hero — junior forward Louis Volker — rebounded a missed shot by graduate forward Hawa Komara and made a heroic buzzer-beater layup, sending Mason to the next round.

Once again, Mason would have to face Richmond in another pivotal matchup. This time, the result was never in doubt. The Patriots sent the Spiders — and A-10 Most Outstanding Player, Maggie Doogan — packing after a 60-45 victory. With the tournament in Henrico, Va., the Richmond players and fans didn’t have to go far.

In the A-10 Championship, Mason’s A-10 run came to an end against Rhode Island, 53-51. The Rams’ defense, which had stifled Mason in their previous matchup, held them to another substandard outing. 

The Patriots shot just 32% from the field, and despite coming into the second quarter up 15-10, the Rams took the lead in the third and did just enough to get by. Walton, Harris and freshman guard Mary Amoateng combined for 38 points, but on 14-of-48 shooting. Without much else help other than a few Jada Brown threes, Mason lacked firepower when they needed it most.

The season came to a close the following week at EagleBank Arena. While Mason nearly completed yet another improbable comeback against Quinnipiac, the defense couldn’t hold back an offense that shot 54% from the field.

While Mason’s season ended without an NCAA bid, the season was full of continued growth for a now firmly established program. With a 23-10 record and a dominant 16-2 mark in A-10 play, the Patriots won 20 games for the third straight season en route to their first A-10 regular season crown. They also appeared in a second consecutive A-10 Championship, which had never been done before Blair-Lewis, Walton and Harris joined the Patriots.

The new undergraduate student body president, executive vice president, clerk and committee chairs pose for a picture after the Undergraduate Representative Body meeting on Thursday, April 23, at the Activities Building. (Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

BY SAM DOUGLAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

George Mason’s 47th Student Government was officially sworn into office at the Undergraduate Representative Body meeting on Thursday, April 23, in the new Activities Building.

Newly elected Undergraduate Student Body President Griffin Crouch and Executive Vice President Skylar Ringo took their oath of office, with each holding their hand on a Blue Book testing booklet. The pair were elected on April 6 in an uncontested race.

Undergraduate Student Body President Griffin Crouch and Executive Vice President Skylar Ringo embrace after being sworn in to office. They were elected with 345 votes on April 6. (Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

“It’s a lot of responsibility. And I think it’s also been exhausting, but it’s something I signed up for because there’s a lot that I’m really excited to do … for and with the Mason community,” Crouch said to Fourth Estate before the meeting.

After the president and executive vice president were sworn in, Ringo swore in the 30-plus representatives present at the meeting.

Newly elected representatives take their oath of office with their hands raised during the Undergraduate Representative Body meeting on Thursday, April 23, in the Activities Building. For some, this meeting is their first as a member of student government, while others were reelected after previously serving. (Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

After standard procedures were explained to the body, they immediately went to work electing a clerk and six committee chairs.

Representative Andrew Boese, a senior majoring in Applied Computer Science, was unanimously reelected as clerk after being nominated by Representative Owynn Wise. Boese had previously served as clerk starting in 2025.

Outgoing President Jonathan Dubois, who was in the gallery, vouched for Boese.

“Andrew Boese has been amazing,” Dubois said.

Representative Andrew Boese (green shirt) fist bumps Representative Andre Esteves after being unanimously reappointed as clerk at the Undergraduate Representative Body meeting on Thursday, April 23, in the Activities Building. (Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

Representative Christian Collins, a junior majoring in Public Administration, was the only chair from the last Student Government to remain in their spot. He was unanimously reappointed as chair of university services. 

The University Services Committee deals with issues such as parking, dining and housing.

Representative Andrew Colasanto, a sophomore Business major, was unanimously appointed chair of administrative and financial affairs, which controls Student Government’s budget.

For the chair of student engagement and support, Representative Benjamin Katz nominated Representative Katherine Story-Yencken, a sophomore majoring in Global Affairs. She was also unanimously appointed. 

The Student Engagement and Support Committee focuses on student involvement and well-being.

Representative Pranav Choudhary was nominated for chair of government and community relations. Choudhary, a Government and International Politics major, was appointed unanimously.

Representative Hannah Kohler, a sophomore majoring in Government and International Politics, was unanimously elected chair of academics after previously serving as vice chair. Representative Andre Esteves, who previously served as chair of academics, was nominated by Clerk Boese for the position but declined the nomination.

The chair of diversity, equity and inclusion was the only position with more than one candidate accepting a nomination. Representative Robin Washburn, a freshman Psychology major, was nominated after previously serving as vice chair of the committee. Representative Imani Anzaya, a sophomore Communication major, was also nominated.

The two took questions for a lengthy period as they both stated their cases as to why they should head the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Eventually, Anzaya was appointed with 14 votes compared to six for Washburn and five abstentions.

Representatives Washburn (left) and Anzaya (right) take questions from the Undergraduate Student Body during their Thursday, April 23, meeting in the Activities Building. Anzaya would be elected chair of diversity, equity and inclusion in a 14-6-5 vote. (Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

With chair positions filled, Crouch and Ringo will begin putting together their cabinet of vice presidents.

“We want a difference in skills; a difference in backgrounds; a difference in what we bring to the table because that helps us reach and do more for Mason,” Crouch said.

The new URB will meet once more on April 30 before returning at the start of the fall 2026 semester.

“I cannot wait to see how I can work with these new people and returning [Student Government] members … and just seeing how we can work together to make GMU a better place,” Ringo said after the meeting.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Rep. Andrew Boese was mistakenly listed as a sophomore. (Tuesday, April 28, 12:48 P.M.)

The Memorial to the Enslaved People of George Mason, located in Roger Wilkins Plaza, pictured the evening of March 21, 2026. Surrounding a fountain, Penny and James, two formerly enslaved people owned by the namesake of the university, stand. They are represented as two-dimensional cutouts serving Mason. (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

BY NATHAN FERRARO, MANAGING EDITOR

George Mason’s cultural prioritization of diversity and representation is ingrained in its mission, administration and student body. However, an examination of the university’s statues reveals those values may not be as present in its art and architecture. 

Mason is “a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia in the National Capital Region [and] an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world,” according to its mission statement.  

Though Mason is an institution that supports diverse art and artists, its Fairfax campus does not always present the same picture of diversity that President Gregory Washington preaches. 

A unique feature of the university is “Art in the Open,” Mason’s open-air collection of curated sculptures. It was an initiative pioneered by Joanne Johnson, the wife of former Mason President George Johnson.  

The art featured on campus is easily accessible and unique, but it is surprisingly lacking the values Mason claims to promote – namely, inclusivity.  

Take, for example, the aptly-named “Woman in Hammock” statue situated next to Horizon Hall, one of the newest academic buildings on campus.  

A statue of a woman reclining in a hammock situated next to Horizon Hall, the newest academic building on campus, pictured March 21. The statue is called “Woman in Hammock.” (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

Though there is nothing particularly polarizing about the statue – the woman is depicted with unextraordinary features, and she is not decapitated or otherwise objectified – it is lacking a name and the substantive identity that comes with that.  

When compared to other statues, like that of Confucius situated next to Mason Pond or the forever-famous statue of George Mason IV himself, “Woman in Hammock” seems overwhelmingly trivialized.  

It is notable that no single, concrete space on the Fairfax campus is dedicated to a woman alone.  

For the buildings that do feature a woman’s name, they are always placed second in official documentation and signage and typically dropped from colloquial speech: take Alan and Sally Merten Hall, commonly referred to as “Merten,” or the Long and Kimmy Nguyen Engineering Building, commonly referred to as “the engineering building” by students and referred to by accompanying signage as the “College of Engineering and Computing.” 

For the few buildings bearing a woman’s name, there are three times as many buildings named after a man or nothing at all: David King Hall, the George Johnson Center, Research Hall and College Hall, for example. 

The Long and Kimmy Nguyen Engineering Building sits on Mason’s Fairfax campus, pictured March 21. The building is commonly referred to as “the engineering building” by students. (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

What this reflects is not necessarily a direct effort to minimize the presence of women on campus; rather, it reflects Mason’s patriarchal history as a university primarily led by men.  

The university has never had a female president, save for the short tenure of interim president Anne Holton in 2019-2020.  

Holton has no space dedicated to her on campus despite the fact that her father, A. Linwood Holton Jr., does.

Though Mason’s top offices have been historically occupied by men, a number of prominent women have contributed to the university’s success.

Dr. Lorraine Brown, founder of the Women and Gender Studies Program, taught English at Mason for over 40 years. She withstood dismissal attempts after criticizing the administration’s leadership regarding race. 

Dr. Eugenie V. Mielczarek, founder of the Physics and Astronomy Department, worked at Mason for 35 years. She was seen as living proof of Mason’s commitment to hiring women in positions of power.

Vanessa Blair-Lewis, current head coach of the women’s basketball team, has led the Patriots from a season with zero in-conference wins to their first-ever Atlantic 10 regular season title. That’s not mentioning the countless records broken by the Patriots under Blair-Lewis’s leadership. 

Each of these female leaders represent the glaring inconsistency of Mason’s ideological mission with its physical reality. Whether these women’s achievements will be honored by the university in stone is yet to be seen.

Other artworks scattered around campus reflect varying degrees of diversity. Exhibitions featured by the College of Visual and Performing Arts are typically keen to take a far more feminist and inclusive approach than the permanent sculptures and “Art in the Open” around campus.  

A current exhibition in the Art and Design Building, showcasing Mary Bowron’s work called “Silent Witnesses,” advocates for figures that can “see and hear but cannot speak” who are “silenced by fear, violence, and systemic oppression.” While the ceramic heads are not definitively labeled as women, it is reasonable to assume that at least a portion do represent women, while all the heads represent marginalized individuals. 

A statue of George Mason IV by Wendy M. Ross sits at the end of Wilkins Plaza, as pictured October 22, 2025. Since its dedication in 2002, the statue has been the fixation of several student traditions, which often include dressing George in costumes to advertise events and celebrations. (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

“We believe we grow wiser and stronger from examining our full truths, no matter how complicated, messy, or discomforting they might be,” an Office of University Branding webpage reads.  

This claim is most enthusiastically supported by the Memorial to the Enslaved People of George Mason, located in Roger Wilkins Plaza. Penny and James, two enslaved people of the namesake of the university, are represented as two-dimensional cutouts.  

If you position yourself on the indicated plates, it appears as if the cutout figures are offering the George Mason statue, which stands further down Wilkins Plaza, tea and dictation services.  

This memorial represents the pinnacle of what George Mason aspires to be — a university dedicated to acknowledging and examining past injustices while moving toward a brighter future. 

The first Black president of the university, Gregory Washington, took the helm directly after Anne Holton’s short tenure. Washington has, to this day, withstood scrutiny from the Trump administration and the Justice Department for his promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion.  

While George Mason is in many ways a testament to the representation and diversity of its students and community, there is an obvious lack of credit toward the women who have contributed to the growth of its students and status.

Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis stands on the sidelines during a Feb. 25 matchup against Saint Joseph’s. She coached the Patriots to their second straight A-10 Championship Game appearance in 2025-26. (Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

BY PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

George Mason women’s basketball is now without their top-two scorers. Standout forward Zahirah Walton — the A-10’s second-leading scorer (18 ppg) — stunned fans by entering the transfer portal on March 24; and with guard Kennedy Harris joining her a day later, the Patriots are at a crossroads.

Walton and Harris helped mold Mason into a winner, leading the charge for three straight 20-win seasons and two A-10 Championship runs; they also led Mason to their first regular season title in 2026 after tying Rhode Island with a 16-2 conference record. 

Now saddled with replacing her dynamic scoring duo, Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis says her team is “reloading the standard” rather than rebuilding. 

“When we recruited [Walton and Harris], they were coming to a program to help build something that no one could see,” she said. “We needed players that could do something far beyond what had been done before. Those two players believed in that vision.”

NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) has reshaped the landscape of college sports, with athletes inevitably flocking to schools with more resources. Still, it hasn’t deterred Blair-Lewis and her staff. 

“It’s not just [affecting] us; it’s everywhere in the country,” she said. 

“For us, it’s just like recruiting. We’re still looking for those same types of dynamic players that are great people on the court and off the court.” 

Rather than seeking out the next Walton and Harris, Blair-Lewis says she’ll be looking for three characteristics during the scouting process: competition, character and scholarship.

“We want players that are competitive, that hate to lose… We want a student that wants to graduate [and] do well in the classroom,” she said. “By the time we identify a student, we know they can dribble past you alright, but what is beyond the student after that? For us, it has to be character — character is very high on our list.”

Blair-Lewis has plenty of experience searching for prospects. Before she was hired by Mason in 2021, she spent 12 seasons coaching for Bethune-Cookman and nearly a decade at Mount St. Mary’s before that. In her experience, recruiting is like “baking a cake.”

“You can’t have all seniors, grad students [or] players that have one year left, because there’s no balance there,” she said. “Everybody’s going to want to play because everybody’s a veteran. You need a mixture of some veteran leadership, and then some players that you’re molding, like the [Mary Amoatengs] — the younger players that are watching, coming up and [who] are going to be able to replace that next level.” 

Above all else, Blair-Lewis wants players who understand their niche and can impact the team’s success in different ways.

She mentioned rising sophomore guard, Mary Amoateng, as potentially the team’s next star player. Throughout her freshman campaign, Amoateng shadowed Harris at point guard and became a reliable third-option, especially down the stretch.

From January to March, Amoateng played her best basketball, scoring 10.6 ppg, shooting a monstrous 41% from three and recording 2.4 steals per game. Her best outing came in a late season 85-59 blowout against Saint Joseph’s where she scored 14 first-half points without missing a shot.

On top of her production on the court, Blair-Lewis emphasized Amoateng’s intense work ethic, saying she places more pressure on herself than the coaches do.

“It’s a great storm when you meet that type of player … because you know she’s always going to be working,” Blair-Lewis said. “She’s always going to be identifying new parts of her game that she wants to change or grow in.” 

Blair-Lewis believes there is more to come with her development — especially in filling in the shoes left behind by Harris as the team’s floor general. However, she also feels strongly about the foundation Amoateng is working from.

“I think she developed a really high IQ of what the position entails — about running the team, putting us in sets and making sure everybody is where they need to be,” Blair-Lewis said. 

In five years, Blair-Lewis’s 99 wins are already the third most in school history, and she constantly shares the credit with her players; especially Walton and Harris. While it stings to lose such talented pieces, she can’t help but appreciate the lasting bond she’ll have with them long after they’ve left Fairfax.

For the fans who will miss the departing Patriots, and the players who look to take their place, they won’t have to look far to feel their legacies; all they’ll have to do is look up at the banners in EagleBank Arena.

“What they’ve left behind will live in infamy in the rafters,” said Blair-Lewis.

The new Activities Building is located behind the RAC. The grand opening was April 16, 2026. (Isabella Pearlstein / Fourth Estate)

BY ISABELLA PEARLSTEIN, STAFF WRITER

After construction began in mid-2024, George Mason’s new Activities Building had its grand opening ceremony Thursday, April 16.  The event marked nearly two years between the start of construction and the building’s opening.

That afternoon outside the Activities Building, students were able to enjoy free food and a live DJ as they participated in activities such as mini golf. 

As students started enjoying the party, faculty members including Mason President Gregory Washington, Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell, Executive Director of Student Involvement Lauren Long, Executive Director of Recreation Sheldon Tate and Green Machine Director Dr. Michael Nickens addressed a separate crowd outside the building.

“It’s not just about opening a building … It’s about opening doors to new experiences, to new friendships, to new opportunities, and these opportunities will actually shape your college career,” Washington said.

Nickens, who is often referred to as Doc Nix, added, “Once again, we’re able to continue to serve the students who have done so much for this community … and now, it’s like everything’s coming together as proof of that work; that work is worthy, and means something, and is valuable to everyone.”

Washington also addressed non-residential students. 

“This is your place to connect too, because the reality is, belonging doesn’t come from where you sleep, belonging comes from where you engage,” he said.

President Gregory Washington and others cut the ribbon commemorating the opening of the new Activities Building on April 16, 2026. (Isabella Pearlstein / Fourth Estate)

After addressing the crowd, President Washington, alongside other Mason officials, cut the ribbon and opened the doors to the new building.

The Activities Building consists of two gyms, four multiuse rooms, two conference rooms and multiple offices.

“[The building] is for all Mason students … and was definitely built with the Green Machine in mind. We really appreciate it,” said John Brennan IV, a graduating senior and member of the Green Machine. “We love it.”

One of the gyms was set up with tables and chairs for students to listen to various live performances from multiple Mason groups, including the Green Machine Staff Band, Green & Gold Soul and Groove Theory A Cappella.

Alongside live performances, students could enjoy playing video games on the screens in the multiuse Brave and Bold Room. 

“I’m just very grateful. This has been a dream. When your idea is the right one, when your idea is strong, keep pushing on it, because it will be possible when you get your team together,” Nix said.

Signs encouraging voters to approve the redistricting referendum are posted outside of Fairfax City Hall on Tuesday, April 21. Over 66% of City of Fairfax voters elected to approve the measure as of April 22, according to the Associated Press. (Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)

BY RITHVIK HARI, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Voters in Virginia approved a landmark redistricting referendum Tuesday, April 21. The measure is the latest in the nationwide redistricting fight, with Democrats proposing a new map with hopes of flipping four Republican-held U.S. House seats. 

The amendment will temporarily hand the state legislature the power to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts, which are currently drawn by a bipartisan commission. That authority will revert to the commission following the 2030 census. 

Before the vote, Democrats controlled six of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts, while Republicans held the other five. Now that voters have approved the referendum, the political landscape will likely shift, giving Democrats a 10-1 advantage heading into the 2026 midterm elections. 

The question on the ballot for voters was “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?” 

According to the Va. Department of Elections, about 262,801 Fairfax County voters, or 69.5%, voted “Yes” while 115,280, or 30.49%, voted “No”. In total, 51.45% of Virginians, good for 1,575,329, voted in favor of the amendment while 1,486,239 voters voted against it. 

The constitutional amendment is part of a national Democratic response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states. These are driven in part by President Donald Trump’s encouragement for Republican-controlled states to draw maps more favorably for the GOP ahead of the Nov. midterms. 

In August 2025, Texas redrew their congressional districts to favor the Republican party. In response, California redrew their congressional districts to favor the Democrat party. This back and forth continued with Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Indiana and now Virginia proposing new congressional district maps. 

The approved map still faces unresolved legal challenges. While no date is set, the Va. Supreme Court is expected to issue final rulings on pending litigation soon. 

A stage is set up for this year’s Mason Day on April 16 at Mason. (Libby Bondi/ Fourth Estate)

BY LIBBY BONDI, STAFF WRITER

UPDATE (Friday, April 24 at 12:20 p.m.): JT from the City Girls has replaced Waka Flocka Flame as the Mason Day concert headliner.

Mason Day, one of the university’s longest-running traditions, will return on Friday, April 24 with past favorites, new additions and a continued focus on student experience. 

For many Mason students,  the university’s end-of-year celebration is the highlight of the spring semester. Running from 3 to 10 p.m. with free entry for all Mason students, it is a final celebration before the stress of finals takes over. 

This year’s event will feature 20 to 30 vendors and 15 to 20 food trucks, adding to the festival atmosphere that has defined Mason Day for decades. Rapper Waka Flocka Flame will also perform as the concert headliner starting at 7:30 p.m. 

For 2026, organizers are introducing several new elements aimed at expanding both the scale and accessibility of the event. 

According to Mason Student Involvement, there will be expanded low-stimulation and sensory spaces designed for students who may feel overwhelmed by the noise and crowds but still want to participate. 

Other new features include an additional lot showcasing semester event projects from students enrolled in TOUR 221: Event Implementation & Evaluation.

There will also be new interactive photo opportunities, a silent disco with included headphones and a new carnival ride called “The Brute” that swings riders around in a claw-like seating. The university’s Green Machine pep band will also be involved for the first time as the opening musical act to kick off the event.

In order to produce the highly anticipated carnival rides, concert stages and crowds of students that characterize Mason Day, Student Involvement spends a full year preparing.

The organization plays a central role in shaping the event, collaborating with the Patriot Activities Council to organize and plan each activity.

Executive Director of Student Involvement Lauren Long said the process of bringing the event to life begins long before students step onto the lots.

“Some of the aspects of Mason Day start almost a year in advance,” Long said. She said early planning includes booking performers, securing carnival contracts and organizing essential infrastructure like staging, sound systems and space reservations. The event is a massive collaborative effort involving staff, graduate students and student leaders.

“One of the exciting things about how we manage Mason Day is it’s an entire Student Involvement team effort,” Long said.

The scale of the event reflects that collaborative effort. Mason Day now spans seven themed zones across two large parking lots, each managed by different committees responsible for everything from performances and activities to logistics and vendor coordination. 

Beyond the activities, Mason Day continues to serve as a shared experience that connects students across generations. Now in its 61st year, the event has become a defining tradition at Mason.

“It’s a timeless event that both current Mason students and Mason alumni can connect over,” Long said. 

As planning continues and final details fall into place, this Mason Day is shaping up to be one to remember. Whether it’s your first Mason Day or your last, the tradition continues to bring students together.

More information and the event map can be found on the Mason Day website. 

The Patriots huddle in a game against Harvard on April 4. (Christian Segovia / Fourth Estate)

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ALUMNI CONTRIBUTOR

George Mason men’s volleyball’s 10-game win streak ended after falling to top-seeded Penn State (12-0 in EIVA) in a hard fought series to close the season. Both games came down to the wire in a fifth set, and the Patriots fell to the third seed in the EIVA as a result of losing both. 

The Nittany Lions won the first set Saturday 25-16 with the Patriots generating just six kills on a 0.158 hitting percentage. In set two, the Patriots went on a 10-3 run after being tied 9-9. The passing was key, with senior setter Georgi Zahariev lobbing to sophomore outside hitter Aidan Weltin for one kill, junior opposite hitter Jackson Herbert for two and junior outside hitter Robert Evangelista for another to bring their lead to 19-12. 

The Nittany Lions responded with a 10-4 run to close the gap at 23-22; but it was too little too late after one service error and two attack errors all but sealed the set win at 25-22 for the Patriots.

The third set was back and forth with the score being tied 10 times, as neither side maintained a lead for long. The Patriots would get some kills, but would then trade attack errors and service errors with the Nittany Lions.. With the game tied at 23-23, the Patriots capitalized on a service and attack error by the Nittany Lions to win 25-23. 

Penn State bounced back in the fourth set, outmatching Mason 16 kills to 9. With the Patriots’ nine errors, including five on serves, they trailed the entire set and were defeated 25-18. The Nittany Lions continued the momentum with 9 kills and a service ace in the game-deciding fifth set. They capitalized on five  attack errors from the Patriots, winning the set 15-6 and the game 3-2.

Penn State’s two outside hitters, junior Matthew Luoma and sophomore Sean Harvey pummeled the Patriots with 63 combined kills, buoyed by junior setter Michael Schwob’s 41 assists.

Weltin led Mason with 12 kills and two blocks, while Herbert and Evangelista each had eight kills and three blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Alexander Lillie had eight kills along with seven blocks, and Zahariev lobbed up a team high 29 assists.

In the second game, Mason and Penn State split the first two sets. In the third set, both teams traded kills, attack errors and service errors, with the Patriots’ highest lead a score of  11-8. Once the lead was tied at 21-21, a final kill from Evangelista and three Nittany Lion errors —two on the attack and one on the serve — led to the Patriots winning the set 25-22. Up in the game 2-1, Mason needed only one more set win to topple Penn State for the first time in 10 years and clinch the second seed in the EIVA.

The Patriots started rough in the fourth set with three attack errors. One kill and a service ace from Penn State sent them into an early 5-1 hole. Afterwards, the Patriots committed seven errors — four on the attack and three on service — while the Nittany Lions capitalized with 13 kills to win 25-15. 

In the final set, the Patriots were down 13-9, but committed four errors (one service error, three attack errors)to knot the set at 13. After two kills by Harvey, the Nittany Lions closed out the night with a 15-13 win. Schwob had another stellar game, producing 50 assists and two service aces without a single error.

Evangelista stood out in the second game, striking the ball with a team-leading 15 kills and stopping the Nittany Lion offense with four blocks. Weltin slammed down 11 kills, one ace and two blocks. Lillie continued his defensive stops with five blocks and six kills, and Zahariev logged 33 assists

Mason (8-4 in EIVA) finishes the regular season with 20 wins for the first time since 2006, along with a 15-2 record at the RAC. The Patriots will stay at Reed Hall in Penn State to face the sixth-seeded Princeton in the first round of the EIVA Tournament today at 4:30 p.m.

George Mason men’s basketball, also known as Team 60, prepares for their opening game against Wofford Nov. 3, 2025. (Mitchell Richtmyre / Fourth Estate)

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR

Coming off a historic 2024-25 season that saw George Mason men’s basketball win their first A-10 regular season title and earn a bid to the NIT for the first time in 15 years, a new-look Mason gave its fans a season that ended with 23 wins (23-10, 11-7 in conference) and the team’s second straight postseason appearance. 

“It was a great year; a phenomenal year,” Associate Head Coach Steve Curran said. “Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted to … but we found a way, and we rallied.”

Despite a second-round exit in the A-10 tournament and a loss in the first round of the NIT, it was a record-breaking year for Mason. “Team 60” became the fastest team in school history to reach 20 wins, winning 20 of their first 22 games. 

That stretch includes a nine-game winning streak to start the season, and a win over UPenn on Dec. 28 gave the Patriots 12 non-conference victories for just the second time in school history and first since 1983-84.  

Going into conference play, Mason sported a sparkling 12-1 record with the sole loss coming at the hands of in-state rivals Virginia Tech. 

Mason had opened the season on Nov. 3, 2025 with a 24-point win over Wofford, but it came at the expense of first-team preseason All-A-10 selection Brayden O’Connor, who suffered a season-ending injury 15 minutes into the season.

“That was scary,” Curran said. “It gave an opportunity for certain guys that weren’t getting started minutes to get started.”

In came junior guard Kory Mincy. A transfer from Presbyterian College, Mincy stepped in for O’Connor, scoring 18 points in his debut on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-5 on 3-pointers. 

“I know that one guy being down like that, I now have to step into his role as well,” Mincy said. “So it’s just really the next man up, and knowing that I can keep leading my team.”

Mincy would continue to lead the Patriots in O’Connor’s absence, scoring 29 points in the following game: a thrilling 96-90 win over Winthrop.

The win was an early test for Mason, as O’Connor, senior guard Masai Troutman and senior guard Fatt Hill all missed the game due to injury. 

“The carry over for me, really, with the hot streak is not really just more so with the points of score, but it’s just my teammates and my coaches having that trust and faith in me,” Mincy said. 

“We have dogs, we have winners, we have players that want to win,” graduate guard Jahari Long said after the win against Winthrop.

The Patriots put their faith and trust in Mincy as their primary option on offense for the rest of the year, but the star guard sustained a thumb injury on his shooting hand during a home loss against Duquesne on Feb. 4 that would derail Mincy’s and Mason’s season. 

The Patriots would win their following game, a homecoming win over St. Joes, before losing their next four games. Mincy was not himself after the injury, averaging 4.5 PPG on 23.5% shooting from the field and 14.3% from deep. Mason only won two of their final eight games.

“We were relying so much on [Mincy’s] scoring, and one of his biggest strengths was his shooting, but he just couldn’t shoot the ball the same way,” Curran said.

Mincy ended the season averaging a team-high 14.3 ppg, shooting 44% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range in 32 games.

Junior center Riley Allenspach, who averaged 6.6 ppg before transferring from Samford to Mason, became an offensive focal point for the Patriots. Allenspach finished the season averaging a team-high 14.8 ppg and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting a team-best 39.4% from 3pt range in conference play.

“I feel like my confidence, that was kind of the main thing,” Allenspach said about his development during the season. “Coach [Skinn] and the team giving me the freedom to be myself, that’s what has helped me grow so much.” 

Allenspach’s breakout season may have been a surprise for Mason fans, but not for Skinn and his staff. The 6-foot-11 native from Charlotte, N.C., caught Mason’s eye after being a part of a Samford team that lost to Mason in the first round of last season’s NIT.

“We knew who he was because he played at Samford, and we got a first-hand evaluation on what he could do,” Skinn said. “Watching film of Samford when we scouted, I was impressed with what he did. And so when his name kind of popped up, we went all in.”

“He’s now 1-1 against George Mason,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said after his team’s opening-night win against Wofford. 

In their home finale, the Patriots ended the regular season with momentum on their side with a 33-point win over #25 Saint Louis. After a long and arduous February, the win felt like the light at the end of the tunnel heading into the conference tournament the following week. 

 “The win really helped us get our confidence back, and reminded us that we’re still the team we were in the beginning of the year,” Allenspach said after the win.

Despite a woeful February, Mason entered the conference tournament as the 5-seed, awaiting the winner of the tournament’s first round matchup between St. Bonaventure and La Salle. The Bonnies would take care of the Explorers handily, setting up a date with Mason the following day. 

The Patriots seemed to ride the momentum from their game against the Billikens, taking a 10-point lead into the half. However, the Bonnies, who were playing for a bigger cause in light of their retiring head coach Mark Schmidt, stifled the Patriots in the second half. The Bonnies would erase the double-digit deficit, going on a 13-2 run to end the game that would end Mason’s tournament aspirations.

Mason earned a spot in postseason play despite the loss, but would fall in the first round to the Liberty Flames 77-71.

With Skinn’s third year in the books, Team 60 proved that Mason is not only a basketball school; it’s an ascending one.

“The state of Mason Basketball has never been stronger,” Curran said. “We have phenomenal support from the administration. A coaching staff that’s working tirelessly to build this roster up again … We have a good foundation, and we’re going to build around that.”

A property damage incident that began as a late-night emergency at Mason’s Arlington Campus has been resolved after the individual came forward and accepted accountability, according to university police. (George Mason University Police Department)

BY RITHVIK HARI, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Just after midnight on March 23, the Arlington County Fire Department responded to reports of a broken water pipe and active flooding in a parking garage at the Arlington Probation and Parole Office on the Mason Square campus. Upon arrival, the Arlington County Fire Department discovered significant water damage caused by a ruptured overhead pipe. 

During their investigation, Mason police discovered video evidence of the incident from security cameras in the parking garage. The footage showed the “deliberate act of an individual attempting to do a ‘pull-up’ on the pipe, rupturing it,” GMUPD Assistant Chief Emily Ross wrote in an email statement. 

The group of people in the video fled immediately after the pipe burst. 

On April 8, GMUPD posted the surveillance video clip to its official Instagram account, asking the community for assistance in identifying those involved. The post quickly went viral on social media, reaching over 1,000 likes and 3,000 shares on Instagram alone.

The video was also reposted on various other social media accounts and platforms with some posts reaching over 1.5 million views on X and over 33.5 million views on Instagram. 

Within hours of the post, the individual seen in the video turned themselves into campus police and took full responsibility for the damage. The department confirmed the case was closed that afternoon. 

GMUPD did not release the identity of the individual, and did not confirm that they had been charged. 

“Moral of the story is ‘if you mess up, you fess up!’ and he led with that in doing the right thing,” Chief Ross wrote.